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Friday, February 27, 2015

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be hosting a Book Blast for the third and final book in the "Adventures of Caramel Cardamom" middle grade science fiction trilogy by Julie Anne Grasso: "Stellarcadia".

About the Book

Title: Stellarcadia (Adventures of Caramel Cardamom, Book 3) | Author: Julie Anne Grasso | Publication Date: December 24, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 128 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 12Book Description: Caramel Cinnamon is one lucky elf. She can hardly believe she’s invited to attend the first Intergalactic Youth Summit, on-board the Stellarcadia. Her friends can’t wait to go “hyper,” but even the thought of it chills Caramel to the bone. However, nothing could compare to the icy reception she receives upon her arrival. Keen to get to the bottom of it, Caramel stumbles on a dangerous conspiracy, but no one will believe her. In the exciting conclusion to The Adventures of Caramel Cardamom Trilogy, Caramel will have to do more than outwit her enemies, she will have to convince her friends to take her seriously. For ages 8-12.

The Early Buzz

"The book is also a perfect mix of magic, science, and technology. Don’t be surprised if readers get to use their imaginations and learn something. Julie Anne Grasso has proven herself to be an original and versatile author..." ~ 5 Stars, Ilana W., Amazon

"Couldn't put it down." ~ Jemima P., Goodreads

About the Author: Julie Anne Grasso

With a background in paediatric nursing, Julie Anne Grasso spent many years literally wrapping children in cotton wool. Every day she witnessed great courage and resilience from the tiny people she cared for, which inspired her to write stories to encourage and entertain them.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband Danny and their little girl, Giselle.

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest ends: March 25, 11:59 pm, 2015
Open: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Julie Anne Grasso and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Book Description:Aoléon and Gilbert receive a special mission
from PAX, a wanted criminal and leader of the Martian resistance movement to
investigate the Luminon of Mars, who he suspects is planning an invasion of
Earth to steal its milk cows. Gilbert has an encounter with the Luminess (the
mate of the Luminon) and discovers something strange about her during a
procession, and the duo are chased by the Royal Paladin Guard.

At
Aoléon’s home, Gilbert meets Aoléon’s family, her sister Una, mother Phobos and
father Deimos as well as her overzealous pet Zoot. He is also introduced to
Bizwat, a covert operator and Procyon Commando, who uses his Saturn Pizza
delivery job as a cover.

Gilbert then gets to visit the Martian Space
Academy (Aoléon’s school) where he encounters Aoléon’s nemesis, Charm Lepton and
her friend Quarkina, as well as receiving a history lesson on the Martian people
by Plutarch Xenocrates. After class, Gilbert and Aoléon get to train in zero-G
and Gilbert is treated to a Psi-ball match between Martian Space Academy and
Martian Science Academy.

My Review:This book picks up at the exact point that Part One left off. The reader begins the exciting adventure of Mars with Gilbert and Aoleon.

I really like the details of life on Mars with Aoleon's family. For instance, "Dinner was being dispensed from tentacle tubing that extended from the ceiling above the table, filling bowls with a milky substance." Another example was Aoleon's holographic star map, which shone in bright colors and moved in three dimensions.

Aoleon even has a pet, a lovable little animal who looks like a cross between a cat and a pug. At night she sleeps in a holographic sleep pod that disappears when it is not in use. Details like this were fascinating, especially as they related to similarities and differences to life on earth.

The Martian Space Academy scenes are fun; they introduce a diverse student population like the Harry Potter series. The descriptions of classes on Mars are really interesting

The book is action packed and fast paced, with a mix of dialogue and description that will appeal to young readers. The illustrations are vivid and exciting, and they really enhance the story. The colors are especially great - they almost glow. I would definitely recommend reading this book in color format (not on a black and white reader).

This book has a broad age appeal, but I think middle school students will especially enjoy it. It has the hallmarks of a book that appeal to young readers - action, vivid imagery, and a sense of fun and adventure.

Meet the Author:Mr. LeVasseur enjoys
crafting good stories based on lovable characters designed to translate well to
multiple media formats such as books, games, movies, and toys. He lives in New
York when he is not commuting between Southern California and Olympus Mons,
Mars. His hobbies include writing, 3D animation, musical composition, and
intergalactic space travel. He also enjoys various sports such as skiing,
running, and exospheric skydiving.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Book Synopsis:Lulupop rarely puts up a fuss, except when it comes to
wearing pants. Dresses, dresses, dresses, is all she will ever wear! With time,
a little drama, and no lack of imagination, Lulupop realizes that wearing
dresses is not always the best choice.

My Review:Before I was a blogger and vintage bookseller, I taught 3 and 4 year olds at a play-based preschool. Each year there were always a couple of little girls who wanted to wear their prettiest dresses to school. I always reminded parents that we would be fingerpainting, going to the playground, decorating cookies, planting flower seeds - and pants were practical for active play. I wish that Pants! No Chance! had been in my classroom library. It would have been a great read aloud to share.

Pants! No Chance! is a charming picture book for young children. Lulupop wants to wear a dress to school every day, although her mother suggests that pants might be more appropriate. Because of this, Lulupop finds riding a bike difficult, cannot participate in gym, and scrapes her knees on the playground. Young readers will find out how she decides that it might not be such a bad idea to wear pants to school.The storytelling in this book is fun and lively. A week in Lulupop's school life is presented with details about each day. The drama and school adventures will make for a great read aloud at home or in a classroom.The illustrations by Alexandre Rouillard are charming. The colors are bright and vivid, and the pictures help advance the story.I would recommend this book for preschool children or early readers (kindergarten to first grade). It would be a fun book to read at home, but also a nice addition to a school library.

Author's Bio:

Susan Lanyi lives in Montreal
with her husband, three children and puppy. She is a writer and has previously
been published in The Globe and Mail. When Susan is not busy writing or doing
"mom stuff" she is shopping for dresses with her daughter….Too bad her daughter
only wants to wear pants!

Sunday, February 22, 2015

What Happened (A Very Short Summary)This was an episode packed with plot developments. Rose married Atticus, after much unwanted drama from her mother, Susan. Mary had a moment of sadness about the household breaking up, as Rose moved on, Edith busied herself with baby Marigold, and Tom advanced his plans to move to Boston. Robert realized that Marigold is his granddaughter. Prince Kuragin suggested to Violet that they move forward as friends - and lovers. Daisy considered moving to London, but decided to stay on until she finishes her studies. Robert honored Mrs. Patmore's nephew with a war monument. Anna was arrested for Mr. Green's murder.Character of the WeekRose is my choice, since she just got married, and the Rose-Atticus pairing is a true love match. Line of the Week"Love may not conquer all, but it can conquer quite a lot." (the Dowager Countess)

"Oh My" MomentAnna was in a Scotland Yard line up. That is a sentence I never expected to type about this show!What I Hope Will Happen NextI am very curious to see what will happen next with Anna's arrest. I wonder if Mr. Bates will "take the rap" and confess so she can walk free? It seemed like he was hinting at that this episode. I also am looking forward to seeing how the Dowager Countess responds to Prince Kuragin. From the trailers, it looks like Mary may have a new man on the horizon - so of course that will be interesting as well.What were your thoughts on this episode? What do you hope to see in the Christmas episode, which airs next week?

Friday, February 20, 2015

A young boy, who is
about to be grounded for going through so many socks, discovers that a monster
has been eating them.Max is a young boy who is constantly getting in
trouble for his socks disappearing. He doesn’t know where they go, but he does
know that if he doesn’t do something quickly his mom will ground him for summer.
Max soon discovers that a little green monster is sneaking into his room at
night and eating his sweaty socks. His mother, of course, doesn't believe him,
so Max calls on his best friend to come for a sleepover to catch the
monster.

They devise a trap and capture the monster only to learn that the
creature can speak. It hasn’t meant to cause any harm, it's just trying to feed
its family. The monster shows them his home and his three little children and
begs the boys not to turn them over to the adults. Adults, he says, want to
destroy monsters. The boys are left in a pickle. Allow the monsters to
be and get grounded, or turn the monsters in knowing what will happen to them?
Neither idea seems good, so they come up with a new plan!

My Review:One of the most important questions I ask about any children's book is, "Is it fun to read?" The Monster that Ate My Socks answers that question with a resounding "YES!" Children will enjoy the adventures of Max as he discovers his missing and half-eaten socks and sets out to solve the mystery. The monster in this book is a friendly creature who will pique imagination.

The book is fast paced, with lively writing. The paragraphs are short, there is dialogue to engage young readers, and the descriptions are vivid.

The illustrations in this book are tremendous fun. They are bold, with vivid colors, and they all feature the three-eyed monster. The pictures really help move the story along.This book is reading level 2.0. Teachers and homeschooling families will love the lesson plan that is included. The lesson plan includes new words, prediction questions, guiding questions, and word work.

I heartily recommend this book for children who enjoy a lively book that they can read themselves. This is a fun read that is sure to engage even reluctant readers.

Author's Bio:

A.J. Cosmo's stories are crafted to help parents teach
their children simple everyday lessons in an easy to understand manner. By
artfully marrying beautiful illustrations and language, children are challenged
to explore his magical worlds. Written for the transitional reader,
A.J.'s stories allow your child to develop and master a new level of
reading.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

The Frailty of ThingsBy Tamsen SchultzGenre: Romantic
SuspenseBook Blurb:Independence. Kit Forrester is a woman who
wears her independence like armor. Despite keeping secrets and hiding her
past, she's built a life she loves and is accountable to no one. Until, that
is, one of the world's most wanted war criminals sets his sights on her and
she must weigh the risk to one against the chance of justice and closure for
many-a decision Kit couldn't make on her own even if she wanted
to.Certainty. As a man who makes his living in the shadows of
governments and wars, certainty isn't a part of Garret Cantona's vocabulary,
and he's just fine with that. But when Kit walks into his life, he realizes
he's never before been so sure about anything or anyone. Suddenly, he finds
he's looking at the world, his world, in a different light. And now that he
is, he's determined to protect it, and her, in whatever ways he
can.Frailty. No one knows better than Kit and Garret that an
appreciation for what is, or what was, or what might be, can be born from
the uncertainty and fragility of life. But when a hunt for a killer leaves
Garret no choice but to throw Kit back into her broken and damaged past,
even his unshakable faith in what they have together might not be enough to
keep it from shattering into a million pieces.

Author
Bio:Tamsen Schultz is the author of several romantic suspense novels and
American Kin (a short story published in Line Zero Magazine). In addition to being a writer, she has a background in the field of international conflict resolution, has co-founded a non-profit, and currently works in corporate America. Like most lawyers, she spends a disproportionate amount of time thinking (and writing) about what it might be like to do something else. She lives in Northern California in a house full of males including her husband, two sons, four cats, a dog, and a gender-neutral, but well-stocked, wine rack.Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TamsenSchultzTwitter:
@tamsenschultzAmazon:http://www.amazon.com/Tamsen-Schultz/e/B009NVIEGOGoodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/tamsensWebsite:www.tamsenschultz.com

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Things I DIDN'T Like About This Week's Episode:1. Isis was diagnosed with cancer, and Cora and Robert put her in bed between them for the night as she was about to pass. This scene just did me in.

2. Tom (my favorite character) is planning to move to America with Sybil.

3. Isobel (my second favorite character) was treated with unbearable rudeness by Lord Merton's sons at a dinner party celebrating her engagement.

Things I DID Like About This Week's Episode:1. Rose and Atticus are engaged. I think they are the most adorable Downton couple ever, and I hope their romance continues to be a happy one.

2. Cora found out about Edith and Marigold, and they worked out a plan for Edith to adopt Marigold openly and live at Downton. Finally a hopeful resolution for this long, sad storyline!

3. Daisy, Baxter, and Molesley visited Mr. Mason at his farm. Mr. Mason is as lovable as ever, and he encouraged Daisy to continue her studies.

4. Mary found resolution with Tony Gillingham, as Charles helped her stage a flirtation to signal that she was truly done with the Gillingham romance and wanted him to move on. Line of the Night:"I'd say she takes after the dachshund, M'Lady." (Sprat to the Dowager Countess, about new maid Danke) "In what way?" "She's QUITE untrainable."As a lifelong dachshund person, that had to make me laugh.

What did you think of tonight's episode? I would love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

About the Book:Two unlikely friends, an old woman and a boy with
special needs, take an aging champion to Westminster Dog Show, and heal their
troubled families.Seventy year-old Bess Rutledge has fantasized about
winning the Westminster Dog Show all her life, but now she has decided she is
too old to follow her dream. She meets Benny, an angry fourteen year-old with
mild autism and ADHD, who has a dream of his own: to impress his self-absorbed
mother. He becomes convinced that winning Westminster with McCreery, Bess’ aging
champion standard poodle, will finally make his mother proud of him. Getting
Bess to go along with his plan, however, is not going to be so easy.

My Book Review:

At the heart of Almost Perfect there are two people and two dogs. Benny, a fourteen year old boy with special needs, wants a dog more than anything else. His love of dogs leads him to meet Bess Rutledge. Bess has been a top breeder of standard poodles for years, but she is closing her kennel without ever achieving her dream of winning the Westminster Dog Show. There are also two special dogs in this story: Bess's dog McCreery, who is a champion poodle and the sire of Breaker, a mischievous puppy who plays a very important role in this book.

I love books about puppies and dogs, so I knew I would enjoy this read. I certainly did! The details about the dog show world were new (and very interesting!) to me. I have already recommended this book to several dog friends. I'm sure they will enjoy it too.

I found the changing focus back and forth between Bess and her life and Benny and his family and school very interesting. I liked learning about their separate lives because it made their unlikely friendship that much more moving.

The dogs, McCreery and Breaker, stole the show. The author did a great job at capturing their individual personalities. I especially loved watching Breaker's growth from a puppy to a young dog.

I listened to this book in Audible audiobook format. Caroline Miller did a wonderful job with the narration, especially in the separate voices and personalities of Bess and Benny. This book translated very well to audiobook format.

At first I found the character of Benny a bit disconcerting because he seemed so much younger than his 14 years. If I had not been told he was 14, I would have assumed he was a much younger child, perhaps 6 - 8. As the book went on, I got used to him seeming very young for his age and my interest in the story about Benny's love of dogs and friendship with Bess became primary in the read.

The setting of the dog community and dog show world was especially interesting. I enjoy watching the Westminster Dog Show, and especially enjoyed reading this book just before this year's Westminster, February 16 - 17.

I would recommend this book for dog lovers from middle school age to adult. It is a family friendly story with an appealing, heartwarming tone. I kept thinking, as I read, that this would make a very good Hallmark movie. Do you love dogs? Do you enjoy a warm, uplifting story? Then you will really enjoy Almost Perfect.

Author's Bio:Diane Daniels Manning is the co-founder and
director of The New School in the Heights, a therapeutic school in Houston,
Texas which helps children dealing with social-emotional challenges find success
in school and life. She has a Ph.D. in Education and a post-doctoral M.P.H from
Harvard and is a practicing child psychoanalyst certified by the American
Psychoanalytic Association. Formerly, she was the Director of the Reading and
Learning Disabilities Clinic at Tufts University, Lecturer and Research
Associate in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Harvard, and Chair of the
Department of Education at Tulane University. She learned the inner workings of
dog show kennels by writing an authorized oral history of a lifetime President
of the Poodle of Club of America. Her writing awards include the Faulkner-Wisdom
Novella Prize and the Women in Film and Television Short Script
Competition.When not at The New School, Diane and her writing partners,
a Standard Poodle named Misty and a rescue cat named Elvira, convene at the
keyboard to share great thoughts and plan the dinner menu.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

I have always loved vintage Valentines. When I was a little girl, my family liked to antique together. When we wandered through antique stores, I always looked at Valentines and holiday cards. When I first heard of eBay, I browsed for vintage Dachshund Valentines. And then I started selling. I mostly sold vintage children's books at first, and then I added in vintage Valentines and vintage Christmas cards and ornaments. I still love finding a big box of Valentines, scanning them, and listing them. All of the cards pictured today are located in my stores: eBay Valentines department, Etsy, and Bonanza. Here are a few of my latest vintage Valentines:

I believe this older card is a Grace Drayton illustration. It features a little girl with dumb bells who is exercising as her dog watches. The card is mechanical -- the girl bends at the waist. "I'm 'most reduced to tears, I'm so skeered I won't get the Valentine I want."

This is a fabulous mechanical card. The little boy's arm and pig move back and forth. "Tom, Tom the Piper's Son stole a pig one day - and as for you, your taking ways just steal my heart away!"

This is a lovely Charles Twelvetrees illustrated card. It features a boy and girl on a toy horse: "With your arms around me holding tight, we'll gallop on my hobby horse - 'cause love's in sight! Be My Valentine." The card has a honeycomb detail -- the horse's back folds out into a beautiful honeycomb.

Another Grace Drayton illustration. (You will recognize her work from the Campbell soup kids.) A boy and girl stand with an organ grinder and a monkey. "Don't monkey with my heart - be my Valentine." This is a mechanical card -- the boy's arm, the winding device, and the children's eyes all move.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Here's what you need to know about Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. It's a young adult novel set in the 1980's. You will meet two bright, creative high school kids who find each other: the bold and defiant Eleanor, who comes from a deeply troubled family, and the sweet and sensitive Park, who comes from a loving Korean-American family. You will glimpse first love again from this book, with all the messy feelings and complications that come with it. You will remember the 1980's. You will think of mixtapes and the music of your own youth.With all of this said, I made a mixtape list from my 1980's years:

"Someday, Someway" (Marshall Crenshaw)

"Every Day I Write the Book" (Elvis Costello)

"Swan Swan H" (REM)

"Hounds of Love" (Kate Bush)

Behind the Wall of Sleep" (The Smithereens)

"Tenderness" (General Public)

"True" (Spandau Ballet)

"Raspberry Beret" (Prince)

"You Spin Me Round" (Dead or Alive)

"Bizarre Love Triangle" (New Order)

"Tainted Love" (Soft Cell)

"Tempted" (Squeeze)

"Oh L'Amour" (Erasure)

"Here Comes the Rain Again" (Eurythmics)

"When U Were Mine" (Cyndi Lauper)

"Desperate But Not Serious" (Adam Ant)

"Let's Dance" (David Bowie)

"Under the Milky Way" (The Church)

"Time Clock of the Heart" (Culture Club)

"I Melt With You" (Modern English)

I would love to hear from you in the comments - thoughts on Eleanor and Park, thoughts about '80's music, about mixtapes ...

Sunday, February 8, 2015

What Happened (A Very Short Summary) The Dowager Countess visits the Prince with news that she hopes to find his wife; he asks Violet to run away with him. Back at home, Violet has problems with her new lady's maid. Edith receives word that Michael Gregson is presumed dead in Munich. She also learns that she has inherited Gregson's publishing company. Bates discovers Mary's contraceptive device and book that Anna is keeping for Mary. He assumes they belong to Anna and they quarrel. Later he confesses to Anna that he chose not to harm Green. Cora and Robert have it out about Simon Bricker, and she stands up to him; he returns to their room. Barrow is ill, and Baxter convinces him to see a doctor. Dr. Clarkson assures him that he will be fine (he was taking saline) and is kind and reassuring. Lady Mary bobs her hair. When she unveils her new look at a family gathering (which includes Rose's new friend, Atticus), Mary and Edith have a fuss. Tony Gillingham, Charles Blake, and Mabel Lane Fox arrive for the steeplechase. Romantic sparks fly between Tony and Mabel. Edith tells the truth to Mrs. Drew and leaves with baby Marigold. Isobel tells Violet that she accepted Lord Merton's proposal. Carson suggests to Mrs. Hughes that perhaps they should invest in a property together, for when they retire.

Line of the Week"All this endless thinking! It's all very overrated." -- the Dowager Countess Character Of the Week Edith received the tragic confirmation of Michael Gregson's death, and mustered her wits to plan a life for herself -- and their child, Marigold. I like Edith and have hoped she would find happiness. I hope this is the beginning for her.

Most Striking Visual Mary's bobbed hair is a small sign of the way things are changing, moving toward modernity.

"Oh My" Moment Bates' confession to Anna that he had the opportunity to pursue and harm Green, but chose not to, was quite a surprise. I truly thought he had been involved in his death.

What I Hope Will Happen Next (All Speculation - No Spoilers!) I hope that things progress for Mary and Charles Blake and for Rose and Atticus. I hope Edith and Marigold have a happy life together. I hope Isis (who was not feeling well) is okay!

What did you think of tonight's episode? What do you want to happen next week?

Friday, February 6, 2015

Sixteen-year old Cori Reigns learns that
not all tornadoes take you to magical places. Some take your house, your
school, and life as you knew it. Struggling to put the pieces of her life back
together, Cori learns to rebuild what the storm destroyed by trusting family
she didn't know she had and helping friends she never appreciated.

Married to my bride for twenty-four years, I have an amazing
son and a wonderful daughter.

Born and raised in central Oklahoma, I work in education,
first as a teacher now in technology curriculum. I write. I read. And in the
summer I make snow cones.

Author Links:

Excerpt:

We
found Leo in the third floor waiting room, just where Slim said he would be.

With
just a cursory glance, it was easy to see he’d made the corner of the waiting
area into his own private room. A blanket draped over one arm of the chair,
with a pillow tucked beneath when it was needed. He had a cup of water and a
box of fish crackers on the stand. The bags beneath his eyes looked like they’d
been carved with a chisel as he stared at the TV with the sound off.

I
marched over and fell around his neck. His hand rested on my back like an
anchor while his breath warmed my neck. Letting go, I sat back on to the plain
wooden coffee table, his hand still in mine.

“How
are you?” I was tired of hearing it myself, but sometimes words are what they
are no matter how fancy we try to dress them up.

He
nodded, as I expected him to. I’d never known Leo to complain. He played an
entire football game with a broken arm once. “Really?” I prodded. “It’s us,
Leo. Talk to us.” Slim slid in beside me.

“It’ll
be fine,” I said. I let go of his hand, and it fell like a rock to his lap.
Maybe Slim could perk him up while I was gone. As I made my way down the hall
to the room the nurse had given me, I felt a little awkward since I didn’t have
a gift to give her, but I brushed it aside. We saved Sara’s life. Considering
our history, that’s a pretty big deal.

About Me

Trish is a long-time online seller who loves all things vintage, but especially vintage children's books and ephemera. In other lives, worked as a bookstore manager and preschool teacher. Always pursuing vintage treasures, great reads, interesting words, and happiness.